Archbishop Robert J. Carlson invited clergy to preach about racism during Masses the first Sunday in Lent.

His request was "in response to the many challenges we have had since Ferguson (following a police shooting), and again this past summer and fall in the St. Louis area" following clashes between pacifists, protesters and white supremacists in Charlottesville,Va., and the not-guilty verdict in the trial of a former St. Louis police officer charged with first-degree murder in a shooting death in 2011.

VATICAN CITY — Catholic priests must deliver good homilies so the "good news" of the Gospel can take root in people's hearts and help them live holier lives, Pope Francis said.

But the faithful in the pews need to do their part, too, the pope said at his weekly general audience Feb. 7.

Catholics need to read the Bible more regularly so they can better understand the Mass readings, and they need to be patient with the homilist, especially if the sermon is boring, meandering or hard to understand.